Steam-heating system.



No. 644,961. Patented Mar. '6, I900.

' C. A. BALL.

STEAM HEATING SYSTEM.

(Application filed July 5, 1899.) (No Ilodel.) 2 Sheets-$het 1 attozw I THE warm nrres m. Paowumov, wAsumcroa u. c

No. 644,96i. Patented Mar. 6, I900. C. A. BALL.

STEAM HEATING SYSTEM.

(Application filed July 5, 1899.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

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NITE TATES AIENT Price.

STEAM-HEATING SYSTEM."

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 644,961, dated March 6, 1900. Application filed July 5, 1899- $erial No. 722,824. (No model.)

To (tZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES A. BALL, a, citizen of the United States, residingin ashington, in the District of Columbia, hzwe invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steam-Heating Systems, of which the fol lowing is a specification.

My invention relates to steam-heating systems, and has for its object to provide an improved construction of the same whereby eitherlow-pressure or exhaust steam orpressure or live steam may be used, the change from the one to the other being automatic and being dependent solely upon the boiler steam pressure, the invention further embracing an improved construction and arrangement of the return whereby any entrained air will be relieved automaticallyand the water of condensation automatically returned to the boiler under either condition of supply to the system, said return requiring no manipulation when a change in the character of the supply takes place. This object I accomplish in the manner and by the means hereinafter more definitely set forth and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a diagrammatic view illustrating the supply side of my improved system, and Fig. 2 a similar view illustrating the return side.

Similar numerals of reference denote corresponding parts in both views.

Referring more particularly to, Fig. 1, the numeral 1 denotes the usual boiler, to the steam-drum 2 of which is connected a pipe 3 for supplying steam to a power fixture at, the latter being, for instance, an engine for running an elevator. From said power fixture the exhaust passes into pipe 5, which constitutes the supply-pipe for the radiators, one of which is shown at 6, said radiators being connected to the common return-pipe 7, as shown, a suitable valve 8 being provided in the return of each radiator that will permit the passage therethrough of the water of condensation and any entrained air,but which will effectually prevent the passage therethrough of steam. Also running from the steam-drum 2 is a pipe 9, that is connected to the supply-pipe 5, as shown, and which has located therein intermediate its length a reducing-valve 10 of any suitable construction and also a by-pass 11 around said reducingvalve, in which is located a pressure-regulating. valve 12, also of any suitable construction, the same being adapted to close automatically under anything greater than a predetermined boiler-pressure and to open automatically under anything less than said predetermined pressure.

Referring now to Fig. 2, the return-pipe 7 of the system is shown leading into a chamber13,into which extends apipe 14, that connects at its other end with a suitable exhausting apparatus, here illustrated by the water end of a vacuurmpump, said. pipe preferably extending almost to the bottom of chamber 13 in order to remove therefrom practically all the water of condensation therein.

Extending from the delivery-port of the vacuum-pump 15 is a pipe 16, that leads into the upper end of a closecl tank17, the latter being provided with a suitable outwardlyopeniug ale-relief check 18 in its top. To the bottom of said tank is connected a pipe 19, preferably provided with a shut-off valve 20 and tapped into a vertical pipe 21, that in turn connects at its upper end with a suitable return steam-trap 22 and at its lower end with the under side of chamber 13, as shown, a check being locatedin said pipe at 23 to pre vent the passage of water therethrough toward chamber 13, but permitting its free'pas sage in the other direction. The return steamtrap 22 has the usual steam connection with the steam-drum 2 of the boiler through pipe 24 and the usual siphon-pipe 25 for returning the water of condensation to the boiler, said pipe being properly checked at 26 to prevent back pressure from the boiler, as willbe readily understood.

The steam-supply for the vacuum-pump 15 is provided from drum 2 of the boiler through pipe 27, while the exhaust side of said pump is connected to supply-pipe 5 through pipe 28, as shown, whereby said exhaust may be utilized in the system as is the exhaust of power fixture 4 or any other exhaust.

A drain-cock 29 in pipe 21 will permit the removal of all the water in the system when it is so desiredas, for instance, when the system is not to be used in winter and a freez ing would. necessarily result.

vbe as follows: The vacuum-pump being arranged to operate undera given steam-pressure from boiler 1-say ten pounds-when the boiler=pressure exceeds that amount said pump will run continuously and the system will operate purely as a vacuum system, the necessary vacuum in the system being created by said pump and the exhaust-steam from power fixture 4, as well as from said vacuum-pump and all other sources of exhaust, passing through supply-pipe 5 to the radiators, the Water of condensation and entrained air being relieved through valves 8 into return-pipe 7, from which they pass into chamber 13 and are forced by said vacuumpump into tank 17. In said tank the entrained air is relieved through check 18, and the water will pass through pipe 19 into pipe 2l,where it will build up against valve 23 until it overflows into trap 22, finally operating the latter to admitsteam from the boiler through pipe 2i and permitting a gravity return of said water to the boiler, as is usual in this form of trap. It will be understood that the intermittent action of trap 22 will be controlled entirely by the supply of water f urnished to it through vacuum-pump 15, which latter will necessarily be commensurate with the condensation taking place in the radiators, and that the rate of speed for said vacuum-pump will be governed by the thermometric conditions to properly relieve the system of the water of condensation. It will also be understood that by means of the reducing-valve 10 in pipe 9 any deficiency in the supply of exhaust-steam from the power fixture or other sources due to the intermittent operation of the latter or to any other cause will be compensated for, said valve being set to admit livesteam to the system at a pressure of, say, one-quarter of a pound of atmosphere. When, however, the boiler-pressure falls below the ten pounds required to operate vacuum-pump 15, the latter will necessarily stop; but if the pressure-regulating valve 12 in bypass pipe 11 is set to open at said pressure the live steam from the boiler will at once pass through pipe 9 and said by-pass pipe 11 into the supply-pipe 5, and the system will be immediately and automatically converted from a low-pressure or exhaust to a pressure orlive-steam system. When this takes place on the supply side of the system, the return of the water of condensation to the boiler being no longer forced into tank 17, due to the stoppage of vacuum-pump 15, must still be returned to the boiler, which is accomplished by means of the connection of pipe 21 with the under side of chamber 13. Thus the suction or exhaust from vacuum-pump 15 having ceased and said pump being sealed by its own valves, the water in chamber 13 will immediately fill pipe 21 from said chamber to valve 23, and said pipe being already filled for the rest of its length the vacuum created in trap 22, due to the condensation of the steam admitted thereinto when pipe 24 was last opened, can only be satisfied from pipe 21 and chamber 13, it being understood that inasmuch as tank 17 is a closed one no water can be drawn therefrom or from pipe 19, as a vacuum therein would otherwise occur. The system will therefore continue to operate on the pressure or live steam so long as there-is any pressure in the boiler, the required circulation being maintained continuously by the condensation constantly occurring in the radiators and piping, together with the relief of the water of condensation and entrained air due to the intermittent action of the trap.

The return steam-trap 22 may be of any suitable construction to intermittently return the water of condensation to the boiler; but it is also necessary that the same afford a relief for the entrained air when the system is operating with pressure or live steam, as the tank 17 is then out of operation and no relief is afforded through check 18. This may readily be accomplished by the employment of the form of return steam-trap disclosed in Letters Patent No. 618,263, granted January 24,

1899, to James H. Blessing, in which such relief is provided for through suitable airvalves, a thermostatic valve being also located on saidtrap, the same not being shown in said patent, but being common in devices of this character used for this purpose, though I do not wish to be understood as confining myself to said particular form of construction, as any other form that will accomplish the desired results will answer.

It will be understood that my system will operate with equal facility when firing under the boiler is first begun or when the fires are renewed after being banked for the night, for so long as the steam-pressure is below ten pounds the pressure-regulating valve 12 will remain open and the system be supplied with live steam, the escape of entrained air and the return of the Water of condensation being through trap 22, as above described, whereas when the steam-pressure reaches or exceeds ten pounds the pressure-reducing valve 12 will automatically close and the vacuumpump automatically start to operate, the result being that the passage of the water of condensation will be through pipe 16, tank 17, and pipe 19 to pipe 21, the system thus being converted automatically from a pressure or live-steam system to a vacuum system.

The sh ut-off valve 20 shown in pipe 19 may, if desired, be closed by the engineer when the system changes to alive-steam one for the purpose of positively sealing tank 17 against the suction of trap 22; but'it will be understood that this is not necessary, as the fact that tank 17 is closed will effectually prevent any withdrawal of water therefrom after the stoppage of pump 15, the pull of the trap 22 being naturally exerted along the line of the least resistance,which would be through pipe 21 and check 23 from chamber 13.

In view of the radical changes in temperature to which the system is subjected in shifting from live to exhaust steam,and vice versa,

it will be apparent that were thermostatic valves employed at 8 on the return sides of the radiators 6 a manual adjustment of said valves would be absolutely necessary after each shift in order to obtain the proper relief of entrained air and Water of condensation, and this diiiicultyl obviate by employing at 8 the form of static valve disclosed by me in an application forLetters Patent of the United States filed March 17, 1899, SerialNo. 709,498, as the same when once adjusted to the requirements of its particular radiator will be unaitected by any variations in temperature and will at all times afford the proper and necessary relief.

I wish it to be distinctly understood thatI lay no claim for noveltyon the construction of the red ucing-valve 10,the pressure-regulating valve 12, or the return steam-trap 221961 56,

as any well-known forms of construction for said parts that willperform the various functions ascribed to them will answer my pur pose. It will also be understood that while for the sake of clearness I have shown red ucing-valve 10 and pressure-regulatingvalve 12 in a vertical position it is intended in practice that said parts shall be horizontal, the latter being the position in which they will more properly perform their functions.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a steam-heating system adapted to 0p erate either as a low-pressu re or exhaust system or as a pressure or live-stea1n system, a boiler, a radiating system, means for supplying steam at approximately-atmospherio pressure to the radiating system when the pressure in the boiler is above a predetermined limit, means for supplying steam from the boiler and at boiler-pressure to the radiating system when the boilenpressure falls below said predermined limit, the change being automatic and governed by said boilerpressure, and means in the return of the system for returning the water of condensation to the boiler under either condition of supply to the radiating system.

2. In a steam-heating system adapted to operate either as a low-pressure or exhaust system or as a pressure or live-steam system, a boiler, aradiating system, means for supplying steam at approximately-atmospheric pressure to the radiating system when the pressure in the boiler is above a predetermined limit, means for supplying steam from the boiler and at boiler-pressu re to the radiating system when the boiler-pressure falls below said predetermined limit, the change being automatic and governed by said boiler-pressure, and means in the return of the system for automatically returning the water of condensation to the boiler under either condition of supply to the radiating system.

In a steam-heating system adapted to operate either as a low-pressure or exhaust system or as a pressure or live-steam system, a boiler, a power-fixture, a radiating system, an exhaust-pipe leading from said power-fixture to the supply-pipe of the radiating system, a direct connection between the boiler and said supply-pipe having a reducing-valve therein, means in said direct connection for admitting steam at boiler-pressure from the boiler diroot to said supply-pipe when the pressure in the boiler falls below a predetermined limit, the change being automatic and governed by said boiler-pressure, and means in the return of the system for returning the Water of com densation to the boiler under either condition of supply to the radiating system.

4 In asteam heating system adapted to operate either as a low-pressure or exhaust system' or as a pressureor live-steam system, a boiler, a power-fixture, a radiating system, an exhaust-pipe leading from said power-fixture to the supply-pipe of the radiating system, a direct connection between the boiler and said supply-pipe having a red ucing-valve therein, a by-pass around said reducing-valve, a pressure-regulating valve in said by-pass for admitting steam at boiler-pressure from the boiler direct to said supply-pipe when the pressure in the boiler falls below a predetermined limit, the change being automatic and governed by said boiler-pressure, and means in the return of the system for returning the water of condensation to the boiler under either condition of supply to the radiating system.

5. In a steam-heating system adapted to operate either as a low-pressure or exhaust system or as apressure or live-steam system, a boiler, a radiating system, means for supplyin g steam at approximatel y-atmospheric pressure to the radiating system when the pres sure in the boiler is above a predetermined limit, means for supplying steam from the boiler and at boiler-pressure to the radiating system when the boiler-pressure falls below said predetermined limit, the change being automatic and governed by said boiler-pressure, a return from said radiating system to said boiler, an exhausting apparatus in said return adapted to operate only under the lowpressure or exhaust condition on the supply side of. the system, an air-relief in the return on the boiler side of the exhausting apparatus, a return steam-trap in the return on the boiler side of said exhausting apparatus adapted to operate under either condition of supply to the radiating system, and a direct connection, between said return steam-trap and the return on the radiator side of the ex 'hausting apparatus, said connect-ion being automatically sealed during the operation of the exhausting apparatus and automatically opened when the latter is not operating.

6. In a steam-heating system adapted to op erate either as a low-pressure or exhaust system or as a pressure or live-steam system, a

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boiler, a radiating system, means for supplyin g steam at approximately-atmospheric pressure to the radiating system when the pressure in the boiler is above a predetermined limit, means for supplying steam from the boiler and at boiler-pressure to the radiating system when the boiler-pressure falls below said predetermined limit, the change being automatic and governed by said boiler-pressure, a return from said radiating system to said boiler, an exhausting apparatus in said return adapted to operate only under the lowpressure or exhaust condition on the supply side of the system, an air-relief in the return on the boiler side of the exhausting apparatus, a return steam-trap in the return on the boiler side o't-said air-relief adapted to operate under either condition of steam-supply to the radiating system and having an air-relief therein, and a direct connection between said return steam-trap and the return on the radiator side of the exhausting apparatus, said connection being automatically sealed during the operation of the exhausting apparatus and automatically opened when the latter is not operating.

7. In a steam-heating system adapted to operate either as a low-pressure or exhaust system or as a pressure or live-steam system, a boiler, a radiating system, means for supplying steam at approximately-atmospheric pressure to the radiating system when the pres; sure in the boiler is above a predetermined limit, means for supplying steam from the boiler and at boiler-pressure to the radiating system when the boiler-pressure falls below said predetermined limit, the change being automatic and governed by said boiler-pressure, a return from said radiating system to said boiler, a static valve in the return of each radiator of the system for permitting the escape of water of condensation and entrained air but preventing the escape of steam under either condition of supply to said radiating system, an exhausting apparatus in said return adapted to operate only under the lowpressure or exhaust condition on the supply side of the system, an air-relief in the return on the boiler side of the exhausting apparatus, a return steam-trap in the return on the boiler side of said air-relief adapted to operate under either condition of supply to the radiating system and having an air-relief therein, and a direct connection between said return steamtrap and the return on the radiator side of the exhausting apparatus, said connection being automatically sealed during the operation of the exhausting apparatus and automatically opened when the latter is not operating.

8. In a steam-heating system, an air-relief and water-return consisting of a chamber in the return-pipe,an exhausting apparatus connected to said chamber and adapted to operate under a predetermined boiler-pressure, a closed tank receiving the Water and air from said exhausting apparatus, an outwardlyopening valve in said tank for permitting the automatic escape of the entrained air, a return steam-trap connected with and operated by the boiler and having an air-relief therein, a pipe connecting said tank and trap, said pipe being extended to and connected with the chamber in the return-pipe and having a check therein for preventing the passage of water toward said chamber, but permitting its passage in the opposite direction, the whole operating so that, when the exhausting apparatus is running, the return will be through the same and the tank to the trap, and,. when said exhausting apparatus is not running, the return will be through the trapsupply pipe to the trap direct from the chamber in the return-pipe.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES A. BALL.

Witnesses:

WM. EARLY, JNo. F. JoLINE. 

